- Wed, Feb 08, 2012
- Doctrine and Theology
Will we experience reincarnation when we get new bodies in Heaven?
This question arises, perhaps, from the different uses of the word “reincarnation”. Literally, reincarnation means “to become flesh again”.
Resources: Doctrine and Theology
- Wed, Feb 01, 2012
- Doctrine and Theology
Are the gates of the Holy City in Revelation 21 and 22 the demarcation line between two different groups of people?
You are correct to observe that often the imagery of being in or outside of a city wall means the difference between being in relationship or not. In the Gospels, study out "cast into outer darkness" and what that means, in regard to the walls and gates of a walled city. And look just how big the walls of this city are! The city is secure from the evil ones.
- Tue, Jan 31, 2012
- Doctrine and Theology
Philippians 2:9-10 says that every knee will bow to Christ. When will that happen?
In verse 9 it says God "exalted and gave" a name. The Greek tense is what is called an aorist, in the indicative mood, "past time, in a point of time". So this verse says God has already given and exalted with the name.
In verse 10 it says, God gave and exalted this name, "for the purpose of/for the result that" every knee should bow. The verb "should bow" does not have any time element (it’s in what is called the Subjunctive mood). The action is one of a summary. Has the purpose been yet fulfilled for ...
- Sun, Jan 01, 2012
- Doctrine and Theology
What book would you recommend on authorial intent?
Question from a reader:
What book would you recommend on authorial intent? And have you heard of The Ungospel? One of my professors at my Christian college recommended it.
- Thu, Dec 29, 2011
- Christian Life, Doctrine and Theology
Does the saying “what goes around comes around” have a Biblical basis?
Question from a reader:
On page 341 of If God Is Good (regarding Galatians 6:7) you say: “A man reaps what he sows. What goes around comes around means the same thing.” But I think verse 7 is often lifted out of context and applied to reaping in this life. But verse 8 shows that Paul is not saying “What goes around comes around”, but is referring to the eternal harvest we reap: “He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit shall reap life ever-lasting.”
I believe “what goes around comes around” refers to things in this life, but this passage speaks of the eternal harvest we reap.
- Fri, Oct 21, 2011
- Doctrine and Theology
Should we use the Hebrew name for God, YHWH (Yahweh)?
Question from a reader:
Should we use the Hebrew name for God, YHWH (Yahweh), out of respect for Him, since it’s used in the Old Testament?
- Thu, Oct 20, 2011
- Doctrine and Theology
Do you think hell is located in the center of the earth?
I don't believe hell is in the center of the earth. I think it doesn't exist in this dimension, but in one outside of our own, and therefore is not located inside the earth. It's very real, as Heaven is, but as far as I can tell from Scripture, it is not located within the confines of the physical universe we know.
- Wed, Oct 19, 2011
- Doctrine and Theology, Recommended Reading and Resources
What books on biblical inerrancy do you recommend?
I hear good things about G.K. Beale’s The Erosion of Inerrancy in Evangelicalism: Responding to New Challenges to Biblical Authority, and I like other things he's done. There's one by Charles Ryrie titled What You Should Know about Inerrancy that's older than Norman Geisler's book Inerrancy. There’s also a really old one on biblical authority by B.B. Warfield, Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, which was a classic in its day. There's a video series by R.C. Sproul called Hath God Said? The Evangelical Theological Society (www.etsjets.org) believes ...
- Wed, Sep 28, 2011
- Doctrine and Theology
I recently came across a Christian website claiming we’re in the end days. What do you think of claims like this?
I took a quick look at the site [you mentioned] and am very uncomfortable with it. It claims to be "A prophetic overview of what must shortly come to pass." What MUST shortly come to pass? Says who? Ever since I became a Christian forty years ago, I have been hearing Christians claim that Christ MUST return in the next few years—yet here we still are having this discussion, and the same may be true in another 30 years (or for those who follow us, another 200).
They offer proof based on misinterpretations of numerous passages that they invariably ...
- Thu, Aug 18, 2011
- Doctrine and Theology
The Meaning of “Evangelical” (audio)
Listen to Randy Alcorn talk on the Bob Dutko show about the changing meaning of "evangelical."
